Brenda Zhang 
The Composer and the Dutar [EPUB ebook] 

Constantinople, 1071.  Beneath the shimmering dome of the Hagia Sophia, Elara Vasilias, a gifted composer of Byzantine hymns, feels the weight of tradition stifling her soul.  The predictable cadence of chants echoes the confines of her predetermined life, a gilded cage built by an empire resistant to change.  But a memory burns within her – a childhood lullaby, a intricately carved dutar, and the ghost of her father, a Silk Road trader vanished into the desert’s embrace.  Driven by a yearning for a music whispered on the winds of the East, Elara embarks on a perilous journey, defying the warnings of her mentor and the machinations of a jealous rival, Isolde, whose ambition is as sharp as a Damascus steel blade.
Elara’s quest for her father’s legacy leads her to the dazzling heart of Samarkand, where she encounters Kadir Khoja, a Uyghur dutar player whose melodies capture the very essence of the Silk Road.  In their shared passion for music, a forbidden harmony blossoms, a dangerous melody in a world divided by faith and tradition.  But Isolde’s relentless pursuit forces them to flee into the unforgiving Taklamakan Desert, seeking refuge in a hidden oasis, a sanctuary where ancient musical traditions intertwine.
Within the oasis, Elara discovers not only the echoes of her father’s past but also the vibrant strains of a new musical language.  With Kadir, she weaves together the sacred chants of Byzantium and the soulful melodies of the Uyghur dutar, creating a symphony of resistance against the forces seeking to divide them.  Their music becomes a beacon of hope, a testament to the unifying power of art, but their sanctuary is threatened as Isolde closes in.
As the oasis becomes a battleground, Elara and Kadir face a choice: surrender to the shadows of fear or embrace the light of their shared art. They choose defiance, composing a serenade to freedom that will resonate across the chasm of cultural divide, challenging Isolde’s ambition and touching the hearts of those sent to silence them.  Under a sky ablaze with a million stars, their music becomes a catalyst for change, a bridge between East and West, a testament to the enduring power of human connection.  Will their symphony inspire understanding and pave the way for peace, or will it be silenced by the forces of intolerance, leaving only the mournful echo of what might have been?